Artificial Reefs to be installed in Mumbai | 15 Apr 2024

India's second-ever installation of artificial reefs (after Pondicherry) to boost marine life is being deployed near Worli Koliwada, Mumbai.

210 reef units made from recycled concrete and steel are installed 500 meters offshore, and it will take 3 months to show initial signs of a thriving ecosystem.

Artificial Reefs:

These are structures built by humans through biorock technology and placed on the seabed in freshwater or saltwater environments.
- Biorock technology was invented by Wolf Hilbertz. In this technology, a low electrical current is passed through the water using electrodes placed near a steel structure.
- This current acts like a magnet, attracting dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and carbonate ions, forming a calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) layer similar to natural coral reefs.
These reefs offer crucial hard surfaces to which algae, barnacles, corals, and oysters can firmly attach themselves.
These reefs will create habitats for fish, absorb carbon dioxide, and benefit local fishing communities.